USADA Chief Tygart Calls for WADA Reforms in Response to Isolation Threats
The President of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Travis Tygart responded to threats by the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Witold Bańka about the country’s isolation in sports. His words are quoted on the organization’s website.
Tygart called for reforms at WADA and accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of resorting to threats in an attempt to silence those unhappy with the agency. “WADA needs reforms to become the true global watchdog that clean athletes need,” he said.
Earlier, Banka addressed USADA in Paris. He stated that if a conflict develops over the doping case of Chinese swimmers, the country could be isolated on the international arena.
On April 20, it became known that in January 2021, the banned drug trimetazidine was found in samples from 23 Chinese swimmers. China said traces of the drug were found in the kitchen of the hotel where the athletes were staying. WADA considered that there was no evidence of doping, so the swimmers were allowed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics.
Tygart then accused WADA and the Chinese agency CHINADA of concealing information. The US questioned the independence of the prosecutor assigned to investigate the case.
Source: Lenta
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